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Friday, August 24, 2012

You're Invited: block party celebrates opening of two new LRT stations

Calgarians are invited to celebrate the opening of two new northeast LRT stations, Martindale and Saddletowne, this weekend.

The City is hosting a community block party event with activities, food and entertainment on Saturday, August 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Park 'n' Ride lot at the Saddletowne CTrain Station.

City of Calgary General Manager of Transportation, Mac Logan, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Alderman Jim Stevenson and Alberta Minister of Transportation Ric McIver will speak at the opening event.

Nenshi says the northeast LRT extension adds two new important transportation hubs for the people of Martindale and Saddle Ridge. “A healthy public transit system is a critical part of a working, sustainable city, and this extension will ensure Calgarians continue to efficiently move around our city by whatever mode of transportation they choose.”

These improvements to Calgary’s transit system would not have been possible without the strong partnership between The City of Calgary and the Government of Alberta, which made significant contributions to the project.

Minister of Transportation Ric McIver says the Province is committed to investing in infrastructure because it improves the quality of life for all Albertans.
“Alberta invested more than $80 million in the extension of the northeast LRT, which will provide Calgarians with more ways to get to work, school, health care, shopping, recreation and social opportunities.”

Approved by Council in November 2007, the northeast LRT extension will support an estimated 8,000 daily passengers when it officially opens for service on Monday, August 27, 2012.

City of Calgary General Manager of Transportation, Mac Logan says the opening of the stations is welcome news to the communities in the northeast quadrant of Calgary.
“These communities are great customers for transit and we look forward to providing this increased level of service.”

Aside from the two new stations, the northeast extension also includes:

An interchange at 64 Ave. and Métis Trail;

A parking facility for about 140 vehicles in Saddle Ridge;

A bus transfer facility with nine bus bays at the station in Saddle Ridge.

“Transportation is excited to be extending this service to the northeast communities,” says Logan. “This extension marks one of the first expansions into a community which was designed around LRT.”

The City encourages residents to walk, ride bikes or hop on a Transit shuttle at the Martindale Station (corner of Martindale Blvd and Martin Crossing Dr. N.E.) between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to attend.

The Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank will also be present and those attending are invited to donate a non-perishable food item.